Life-saving device for sunken ships



March 11, 1930. J. KARDOS ET AL 1,749,821

LIFE SAYING DEVICE FOR SUNKEN SHIPS Filed Feb. 10, 1928" g i w Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN KARDOS, OF PERTH AMBOY, NEW JERSEY, AND DESZO FISCHER, OF JAMAICA,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNQR 0F QNErFOUR BOY, NEW JERSEY TH. T0 HERMAN FISCHER, OF PERTH AM- LIFE-SAVING DEVICE FOR SUNKEN SHIPS Application filed February 10, 1928. Serial No. 253,288.

The device consists of a waterproof con-' .tainer adapted to be lowered into water in which a ship has sunken. The'container is 7 provided with a large pipe projecting from one side and this pipe has coupling means for connection with an opening adapted-for this. purpose in the side of the ship. Passage of water thru the pipe is restricated by a plug and a door engaged therein. At a slight distance above this pipe, the container is provided with a pair of apparatus normally closed by doors openable from the inside of the container, and waterproof gloves to fit the hands and arms of a person are attached on the outside of the container overthese apertures. Slightly above this pair of apertures, the container is provided with an observation window. Various tools and chains are removably supported to the exterior of the container in reach of a person whose hands are engagedin the gloves. The container is supported from its top, and provided with means for turning the body of the container relative to the top, and also with means for tilting the container relative to the support ropes.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention aremore particularlyset forth.

R ferring to the. accompanying drawing, forming a material part of this construction:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a ship, andthe life saving device attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the container portion of the device.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly sectional, of the device attached to a ship.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the side projecting pipe of the contai-ner.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view of the normally. closed opening arranged in the side of a, ship to receive the projecting pipe of the device.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary face view, looking in the direction of the arrows .66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the container.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the top cover of the container.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of our device, a front portion being broken away to disclose the interior thereof.

The reference numerallO indicates generally a waterproof container provided with a large pipe 11 projecting from one side.

The exterior of the pipe is formed with threads 12 threadedly engaged by a coupling collar 13 having external threads 14:, and handles 15 to facilitate turning.

vThe interior of the pipe 14 is formed with threads 16 threadedly engaged by a plug 17 provided with a square projection 18 for engagement by a turning tool from the interior of the container. Relative to the container, the entranceto the pipe 11 is normally closed by a door 19 hinged to the container 10, and provided with a latch bolt 20.

At a slight distance above the pipe 11, the container is provided with a pair of apertures 21 normally closed by doors 22 openable from supported and attached to the exterior of the container in reach of a person whose hands are engaged in the gloves.

The container 10, is formed of abody section 10 and a top section 1O rotatively attached to each other by means of a 'clovetailed connection 26. The top section 10 has acentral aperture 27 normally closed by a 33 and top eye brackets 34, threadedly engage the bushings 30. Cables 35 are attached to the eye brackets 34 and serve as a hoisting means for the device. A batch of flexible pipes 36 enter the container. thru the cover plate 28 and serve as an air inlet into the container, and also establishes communication means with the interior of the container. "The section 10 is formed with a circular rack 37 engaged by a gear 38 supported on a shaft 39 rotatively mounted to section 10*. A gear 40 is fixed on the shaft 39 and is engaged by a chain 41 engaging gear, 42011 a shaft 43 'rotatively mounted on section 10*, and provided with a handle 44. r The reference numeral 45 indicates generally a submarine of any design and construction, or a ship of a similar class. Theside of the ship 45 is formed with threaded apertures such as aperture 46. A plug 47 'threadedly engages in the aperture 46 and is provided with a square recess 48 for engagement by a turningtool from the exterior of the ship. The inner side of aperture 46 is normally closed by a door 49 hinged to'the ship, and provided with a latch bolt 50, and a valve 51 communicating with the interior of the ship. I

The operation of the device be traced by first assuming that ship has sunk, and con tainer 10is on a rescue ship. A person enters container 10 upon the removal of cover plate 28 which is thereafter secured in place by the bolts '29. The container is then lowered into the water by cable 35. The person within the container may turn handle 44 to rotate sectionlO so that pipe 11 faces the sunken ship, and attains a position in proximity of a plug 47 of the ship. Then the person engages his hands in the gloves 23 and with the tools 25 removes the plug 47. Then the bushingsBO are turned to finely adjust the inclination and position of the container so that the pipe 11 aligns with aperture 46. Then the chains 25 .are attached to the ship, and the container forced towards the ship so that pipe 11 enters aperture'46. The coupling 13 is next turned so that-threads 14 engage threads 46, thus attaching the container to the ship. Then door 19 is opened, next plug 17 removed, and then plug 47. The person then tests by means of valve 51 to ascertain whether the sunken ship isfull of water.- If the tests show that it is not filled with water, the door 49 is opened. Any persons entrapped in the ship 45 may enter the container.

Then the door 49 is closed, plug 17 reengaged, door 19 closed and coupling 13 disengaged. Signals are then given to persons on the rescue ship to draw up the container.

,. Fig. 9 disclosesa modified form of the dely supported to section 10, meshes with the rack. A second gear-59 with a handle 60 meshes'with gear 58 and is alsosupported fromsection 10. In operation,handle 60 may be turned to rotate section 10 relative to section 1O for the same purposeas in the preferred form. I 7 v It is to be understood that'by using this device, it is possible to descend into the Water without the usual divers suit.

While we have shown and described a is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructionherein dispreferred embodiment .of our invention, it

closed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. l V v Having thus described our invention what we claim as new. and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a life saving device for sunken ships,

.a container capable of holding several persons, a plurality of bushings rotatively mounted on the inner face of the top of the container, handles projecting from the bushings to fascilitate manual turning by persons within thecontainer, rods threadedly ,en-

'gaged thru the bushings extending from the container interior to the exterior, support-- 7 ing cables attached on the outer ends'of the rods, and flanges on theinner ends of the rods for manually preventing rotation so that'the rods may be adjusted by persons within the container for changing its inclination.

2. In a life saving device for sunken ships, a container capable of holding several persons, a detachable cover on the top of the container. constituting its top, a plurality of bushings rotatively mounted on the inner face :ofthe top of the container, handles projecting from the bushings to fascilitate manual turning by, persons within the container, rods threadedly engaged thru. the bushings extending from the container interior to the.

exterior, supporting cables attached on the outer ends of the rods, and flanges on'the in- .ner ends of the rods for manually preventing rotationso that the rods may be ad'usted by persons within the container for 0 ang ing its inclination.

3. In a life saving device for sunken ships, a container capable of holding several persons, a plurality of bushings rotatively mounted on the inner face of the top of the 5 container and arranged for manual turnin by persons Within the container, rods threa edly engaged thru the bushings extending from the container interior to the exterior, supporting cables attached on the outer ends of the rods, and flanges 0n the inner ends of the rods for manually preventing rotation so that the rods may be adjusted by persons Within the container for changing its inelination. I In testimony whereof We have afiixed our signature.

' JOHN KARDOS.

DESZO FISCHER. 

